Magnetically coupleable footwear

ABSTRACT

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed towards magnetically coupleable footwear. The footwear can include a first footwear piece having a first sole, the first sole having a bottom surface and at least one magnet disposed in the first sole, and a second footwear piece having a second sole, the second sole having a bottom surface and at least one complementary magnet disposed in the second sole, wherein the at least one magnet and the at least one complementary magnet are oriented so as to attract each other when the bottom surface of the first sole is facing the bottom surface of the second sole.

BACKGROUND

Many situations exist where an individual must remove their footwear ortransport their footwear. Such situations include, for example, enteringinto certain households, during classes such as yoga and aerobics, andwalking on the beach. In some of these situations, the removed footwearis placed into a group of other footwear, increasing the chance that oneor both of the footwear pieces may be misplaced or lost. Additionally,carrying footwear by hand is frequently inconvenient, requiring one toeither grab both pieces with one hand or carry one piece in each hand. Asolution for conveniently maintaining footwear together is thereforedesired.

SUMMARY

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed towards magneticallycoupleable footwear. The footwear can include a first footwear piecehaving a first sole, the first sole having a bottom surface and at leastone magnet disposed in the first sole, and a second footwear piecehaving a second sole, the second sole having a bottom surface and atleast one complementary magnet disposed in the second sole, wherein atleast one magnet and at least one complementary magnet are oriented soas to attract each other when the bottom surface of the first sole isfacing the bottom surface of the second sole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. Thefollowing detailed description should be considered in conjunction withthe accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 a is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a pair ofmagnetically coupleable footwear.

FIGS. 1 b-1 c are cross-sectional views of magnets embedded in the soleof a footwear piece.

FIG. 1 d shows a bottom view of the soles of an exemplary embodiment ofa pair of magnetically coupleable footwear.

FIGS. 2 a-2 c show exemplary magnet arrangements for a pair ofmagnetically coupleable footwear.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary display panel for use with a pair ofmagnetically coupleable footwear.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary backpack for use with a pair of magneticallycoupleable footwear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description andrelated drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention.Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spiritor the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements ofexemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detailor will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of theinvention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description, adiscussion of several terms used herein follows.

As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example,instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are notlimiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood thatthe described embodiment are not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms“embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do notrequire that all embodiments of the invention include the discussedfeature, advantage or mode of operation.

Referring to FIGS. 1 a-1 d, and according to at least one exemplaryembodiment, a pair of magnetically coupleable footwear pieces 100 isdisclosed. The magnetically coupleable footwear pieces 100 can include afirst footwear piece 100 a and a second footwear piece 100 b.

Turning to FIG. 1 a, each of magnetically coupleable footwear pieces 100can include a sole 102, at least one upper portion 104, a front end 106,and a rear end 108. Sole 102 and at least one upper portion 104 can haveany desired shape and surface configuration, which may be contemplatedand provided as desired based on aesthetic, functional, orthopedic, andother considerations. Sole 102 can include any desired tread pattern ordesign. Furthermore, all portions of footwear pieces 100 may be madefrom any desired materials, for example, leather, rubber, naturalmaterials, synthetic compounds, or any other suitable material thatenables footwear 100 to function as described herein.

Turning to FIGS. 1 b-1 c, sole 102 can include a top surface 110 and abottom surface 112. At least one recess 114 may be disposed within sole102 substantially proximate bottom surface 112. Disposed within recess114 may be a permanent magnet 116. Magnet 116 may be a rare-earthmagnet, for example, a neodymium magnet. Magnet 116 may be coupled tosole 102 by any suitable attachment, such as, for example, an adhesive.Magnet 116 may be oriented such that the magnetic moment of magnet 116is oriented perpendicular to the plane of sole 102. Magnet 116 may haveany configuration that enables footwear 100 to function as describedherein. For example, magnet 116 may be a disc magnet. If desired, magnet116 may further include a coating, for example a rubber or other polymercoating.

In some exemplary embodiments, recess 114 may be exposed to the externalenvironment. In other exemplary embodiments, recess 114 may be enclosedwithin sole 102, with a membrane 118 separating recess 114 from theexternal environment. Membrane 118 may be formed integrally with sole102, or may be provided separately and coupled to sole 102 by anysuitable attachment, such as, for example, an adhesive. Membrane 118 mayhave any thickness that allows footwear 100 to function as describedherein.

As shown in FIG. 1 d, first footwear piece 100 a can include at leastone magnet 116 a in the sole 102 a thereof. Similarly, second footwearpiece 100 b can include at least one complementary magnet 116 b in thesole 102 b thereof. The polarity of complementary magnet 116 b may beopposite the polarity of magnet 116 a, resulting in an attractive forcebetween magnets 116 a, 116 b. Thus, when the soles 102 a, 102 b of firstand second footwear pieces 100 a, 100 b are oriented such that thebottom surfaces 112 a, 112 b face each other, and brought intosufficient proximity to each other, the magnetic force can result in thecoupling of footwear pieces 100 a, 100 b to each other. This can allowfor easy transport and storage of footwear 100, as well as reducing thelikelihood of loss or misplacement of any one of the footwear pieces.

Exemplary embodiments of footwear 100 can include a plurality of magnets116 disposed in any desired arrangement, pattern, or decorative form.For example, the magnets may be positioned at the front end 106 and rearend 108 of the footwear piece 100, as shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 d. Inother exemplary embodiments, the placement of magnets 116 may be basedon, or may be a part of, a particular tread design of footwear 100. Forexample, in FIGS. 2 a-2 c, an exemplary checkerboard tread design isshown, with magnets 116 arranged as part of the tread design.

In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2 a-2 c, thearrangement of magnets 116 a of first footwear piece 100 a may mirrorthe arrangement of complementary magnets 116 b of second footwear piece100 b. Magnets 116 may be provided in a sufficient amount andarrangement such that when footwear pieces 100 a, 100 b are coupled, thebottom surfaces 112 of soles 102 a, 102 b may be substantiallycoterminous with each other. The minoring of the magnet arrangements onfootwear pieces 100 a, 100 b can result in that each of magnets 116 afaces a complementary magnet 116 b when the bottom surfaces 112 of soles102 a and 102 b are oriented to face each other and when the front ends106 and/or rear ends 108 of footwear pieces 100 a, 100 b are alignedwith each other.

In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2 a, the plurality ofmagnets 116 in a footwear piece 100 can have the same polarity. Forexample, all magnets 116 a in a first footwear piece 100 a may have thenorth pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole 102 a.Consequently, all complementary magnets 116 b in a second footwear piece100 b can have the opposite polarity, with the south pole orientedtoward bottom surface 112 of sole 102 b, and with the arrangement ofcomplementary magnets 116 b mirroring the arrangement of magnets 116 a.

In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2 b, the plurality ofmagnets 116 in a footwear piece 100 can have alternating polarities.That is, a first portion of the plurality of magnets 116 a in a firstfootwear piece 100 a may have may have the north pole oriented towardbottom surface 112 of sole 102 a, while a second portion of theplurality of magnets 116 a may have the south pole oriented towardbottom surface 112 of sole 102 b. Consequently a first portion of theplurality of complementary magnets 116 b in a second footwear piece 100b may have the south pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole 102a, while a second portion of the plurality of complementary magnets 116b may have the north pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole 102b, with the arrangement of complementary magnets 116 b mirroring thearrangement of magnets 116 a.

The arrangement of polarities of magnets 116 in a footwear piece 100 maybe provided as desired. In some exemplary embodiments, magnets 116 maybe arranged in regularly alternating polarities. For example, themagnets 116 a may be arranged in a checkerboard-type pattern on sole 102a, and complementary magnets 116 b may mirror the pattern on sole 102 bwith opposite polarities.

In other exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2 c, the amount ofmagnets 116 with a particular polarity, as well as the orientation ofthe magnets 116 on sole 102 may be substantially arbitrary. Thus, foreach pair of footwear 100, and for every magnet 116 a on sole 102 a, thepole that is oriented towards bottom surface 112 of sole 102 a may bedecided substantially randomly, for example during manufacture of thefootwear pair. However, it should be appreciated that, in the same pairof footwear 100, a complementary magnet 116 b on sole 102 b in aposition mirroring that of magnet 102 a on sole 102 a would have a poleorientation opposite to that of magnet 116 a. Consequently the pluralityof magnets 116 a, 116 b in any paired footwear pieces 100 a, 100 b canhave a substantially distinctive combination of alternating polarities.That is, given a plurality of magnets 116, each of which can be arrangedin either a north/south orientation or a south/north orientation, asubstantially large number of distinctive orientation combinations canresult. The number N of distinctive combinations can be obtained byN=2^(m), where m is the number of magnets 116 in a particular footwearpiece 100. This feature can provide convenience to the user of a pair offootwear pieces 100, due to the high likelihood that a particular firstfootwear piece 100 a can couple only to a corresponding second footwearpiece 100 b of the same pair of footwear. Consequently, in situationswhere multiple pairs of footwear 100 are present, the likelihood ofmixing and mismatching of footwear pieces of different pairs may bereduced.

The embodiments of footwear pieces 100 disclosed herein can facilitateeasy storage of the footwear 100. For example, footwear pieces 100 a,100 b may be coupled to each other and may be hung from a hanger orhook, placed in a shoe organizer such as a shoe rack, shoe tree, pocketshoe organizer, or any other organizer known in the art. Footwear pieces100 a, 100 b may also be coupled to each other and hung from a turnstileor other retail display. Coupling footwear pieces 100 a, 100 b to eachother can reduce the possibility of loss or misplacement of the footwearpieces during storage, transport, or any other contemplated situation.

Specialized structures and apparatuses may also be provided for displayor storage of the embodiments of footwear 100. FIG. 3 shows an exemplaryembodiment of a panel 300. Panel 300 can include at least oneparamagnetic element 302, for example a magnetic metal or metal alloyportion to which footwear pieces 100 a, 100 b may be attached. Theparamagnetic element 302 may be provided with a coating if desired, forexample a rubber or other polymer coating. The panel 300 can facilitatethe display of footwear pieces 100 in retail situations, and can includeindicia 304, which can display information about the footwear pieces100. Panel 300 can also facilitate convenient storage of footwear 100 inany situation, for example on a surface, in a closet or wardrobe. Panel300 can further include mounting elements 306 to facilitate mounting,hanging or otherwise conveniently disposing the panel in any desiredlocation. The mounting elements 306 can include hanger hooks, apertures,fasteners, or any other mounting element known to one having ordinaryskill in the art. It should be appreciated that any display structurehaving a paramagnetic element thereon may be contemplated and providedas desired.

Carrying devices may also be provided for use with the embodiments offootwear 100. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary backpack 400. Backpack 400 caninclude at least one paramagnetic element 402, for example a magneticmetal or metal alloy portion to which footwear pieces 100 a, 100 b maybe attached. The paramagnetic element 402 may be embedded withinbackpack 400, for example between the fabric layers of the backpack. Inan exemplary embodiment, a paramagnetic element 402 may be provided oneach of the side panels 404 of backpack 400, allowing a footwear piece100 to be attached to each side of backpack 400. In other exemplaryembodiments, the paramagnetic element 402 may be provided in any desiredlocation on the backpack 400. Any other carrying device for footwear 100may be contemplated and provided as desired, for example, a bag, apurse, and so forth, the carrying device having paramagnetic elements402 disposed in any desired location therein.

While the embodiments of footwear 100 are illustrated in theaccompanying figures as sandals, it should be appreciated that themagnetic arrangements disclosed herein may be used with any article offootwear, such as sneakers, shoes, dress shoes, pumps, heeled shoes, andso forth.

The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate theprinciples, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of theinvention. However, the invention should not be construed as beinglimited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additionalvariations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art.

Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded asillustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should beappreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pair of soles for footwear, comprising: a firstsole having a bottom surface and at least one magnet disposed in thefirst sole; and a second sole having a bottom surface and at least onecomplementary magnet disposed in the second sole; wherein the at leastone magnet and the at least one complementary magnet are oriented so asto attract each other when the bottom surface of the first sole isfacing the bottom surface of the second sole.
 2. The pair of soles ofclaim 1, further comprising: a plurality of magnets disposed in thefirst sole; and a plurality of complementary magnets disposed in thesecond sole.
 3. The pair of soles of claim 2, wherein the magnets andcomplementary magnets are positioned so as to align the first sole andthe second sole such that the bottom surface of the first sole and thebottom surface of the second sole are substantially coterminous.
 4. Thepair of soles of claim 2, wherein the magnets of the first sole arepositioned so as to mirror the positions of the complementary magnets inthe second sole.
 5. The pair of soles of claim 1, wherein the magnetsand complementary magnets are neodymium magnets.
 6. The pair of soles ofclaim 1, wherein: the magnet has a magnetic moment orientedperpendicularly to the plane of the first sole; and the complementarymagnet has a magnetic moment oriented perpendicularly to the plane ofthe second sole.
 7. A pair of footwear pieces comprising the pair ofsoles of claim
 1. 8. A pair of footwear pieces, comprising: a firstfootwear piece having a first sole, the first sole having a bottomsurface and at least one magnet disposed in the first sole; and a secondfootwear piece having a second sole, the second sole having a bottomsurface and at least one complementary magnet disposed in the secondsole; wherein the at least one magnet and the at least one complementarymagnet are oriented so as to attract each other when the bottom surfaceof the first sole is facing the bottom surface of the second sole. 9.The pair of footwear pieces of claim 8, further comprising: a pluralityof magnets disposed in the first sole; and a plurality of complementarymagnets disposed in the second sole.
 10. The pair of footwear pieces ofclaim 9, wherein the magnets and complementary magnets are positioned soas to align the first sole and the second sole such that the bottomsurface of the first sole and the bottom surface of the second sole aresubstantially coterminous.
 11. The pair of footwear pieces of claim 9,wherein the magnets of the first sole are positioned so as to mirror thepositions of the complementary magnets in the second sole.
 12. The pairof footwear pieces of claim 9, wherein the magnets and complementarymagnets are neodymium magnets.
 13. The pair of footwear pieces of claim8, wherein: the magnet has a magnetic moment oriented perpendicularly tothe plane of the first sole; and the complementary magnet has a magneticmoment oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the second sole.